Rod weeder



June 1, 1965 w. w. JACKSON ROD WEEDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1964 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM W. JACKSON ATTORNEY June 1, 1965 w. w. JACKSON 3,186,494

ROD WEEDER Filed Feb. 10, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 53 WILLIAM w JACKSON 3 BY 23 N fizi ATTORNEY June 1, 1965 w. w. JACKSON 3,186,494

ROD WEEDER Filed Feb. 10, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM W. JACKSON ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,186,494 ROD WEEDER William W. Jackson, Ankeny, Iowa, assignor to Deere & Company, Moiine, iii, a enrporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 10, 1954, Ser. No. 343,815 7 Claims. (Cl. 1'7244) The present invention relates generally to rod weeders and more particularly to rod Weeders adapted to be mounted on flexible tool carriers or the like.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of a rotary rod weeder of generally simplified construction securable to a flexible tool carrier, that is, a tool carrier having a plurality of laterally extending sections pivotally secured to each other about fore-and-aft extending axes. Heretofore, it has been common practice when securing rotary rod weeders to flexible tool carriers to make each of the weeder rods of generally the same length as the section with which it is associated, and to provide drive means on each section to drive the associated weeder rod. However, this construction has the disadvantage that it is necessary to provide as many driving means as there are sections in the flexible tool carrier. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction wherein the weeder rods are not coextensive with the sections of the tool carrier, and in which it is not necessary to provide as many drive means as there are sections.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide, in combination with a tool carrier having a plurality of sections, weeder rods which are not coextensive with the sections.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a rotary rod weeder adapted to be associated with a tool carrier having a central section and flexible or pivoted outrigger sections which are adapted to move from a generally horizontal working position to a generally vertically extending transport position, the rotary rod weeder having driving means mounted only on the outrigger sections.

Another object of the present invention is the provision in combination with a three-section flexible tool carrier of a two-section weeder rod.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of bracket means adapted to rotatably support a rotary weeder rod which is mounted on a flexible tool carrier, the bracket means being adapted to move generally vertically to permit continuous operation of the weeder rod as the flexible tool carrier traverses uneven ground.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of means to permit lateral shifting of a weeder rod whereby the weeder rod can be shifted out of engagement with depending supporting means carried by the central section of a flexible tool carrier to permit the outer units of the tool carrier to be swung to their generally vertically extending inoperative position.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the rear of a portion of a flexible tool carrier with which the rotary rod weeder of the present invention is associated, the carrier and weeder rods being disposed in their working position.

FIG. 2 is a simplified direct rear view of a flexible tool carrier in which the carrier and weeder rods are disposed in their transport position.

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FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the vertically shiftable bracket means.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the manner in which the vertically shiftable bracket is secured to its support, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 showing the manner in which the weeder rod is secured for longitudinal adjustment.

Referring first to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the apparatus in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated includes a flexible tool carrier having a central section generally indicated at 10 and rightand left-hand outrigger sections 12 and 14 respectively. Right-hand and left-hand reference is determined by standing to the rear of the tool carrier and facing the direction of travel. Each section includes forward, intermediate and rearward transverse frame members 16, 18 and 20 respectively to which tool standards 22 of generally conventional construction may be secured. The frame members are interconnected by generally fore-andaft extending members 24 and the central section 10 is provided with forwardly extending draft frame members 26. The frames 10, 12 and 14 are supported by land wheels 28 which can be moved upwardly and downwardly relative to the frame members in a generally conventional manner. The outrigger frame sections 12 and 14 are pivotally secured to the intermediate frame member 10 by means of pivots 30.

A cylinder assembly 32 is mounted on rightand lefthand brackets, 34 and 36, respectively and is adapted to raise and lower the pivoted outrigger sections 12 and 14. To this end, the brackets 34 and 36 are rigidly secured at one end to the frame members 20 and at their other ends to the cylinder and piston rod of the assembly 32. The brackets 34 and 36 are reinforced by rightand left-hand braces, 38 and 4%, respectively. The cylinder assembly is caused to be extended and retracted, thereby lifting the outrigger sections, in a conventional manner.

Mounted on the outrigger sections 12 and 14 are weeder rod driving means indicated generally at 42 (FIG. 2) which may be a fluid motor of the type employed in the patent to Hunter No. 3,108,642 issued October 29, 1963, or the drive may be of any other suitable structure. Drive boots 44 of the type shown in the above patent are drivingly interconnected with each of the drive units 42 and are secured to the rear end of an associated standard 22. Each rod weeder drive boot 44 carries in its lower end a driving gear through which a weeder rod 48 is slidably disposed. Secured to the lower rearward portions of those standards 22 which are secured to the rearmost frame member 20 are rearwardly extending brackets 50 and 52, the brackets 50 being interconnected with the central section 10, and the brackets 52 being interconnected with the outrigger sections 12 and 14.

The bracket members 52, (as shown in FIGS. 3-5) each include a support member 54 and a rearwardly extending plate 56. The support members 54 are secured to the lower portion of the tool standards 22 in a generally conventional manner, and the rearwardly extending plate 56 is in turn secured to the support 54 by bolts 53. The support 54 is provided with a plurality of generally vertically spaced apertures 60 which are adapted to cooperate with a hole 62 and a slot 64 in plate 56. The bolts 58 are passed through the apertures 60 in support 54 and hold the plate to the support member by means of spacers 66, washers 68, and nuts in the manner clearly illustrated in FIG. 4. Supported on the rearward portion of the bracket 52 illustrated in FIG. 3 is a bearing 72 and locking collar 74. The weeder rod 3 48 is slidably disposed within the locking collar '74 and is secured thereto by means of bolts 7s.

In operation the tool carrier is disposed in the manner indicated in PEG. 1 with the outrigger sections 12 and 14 in a generally horizontal position. In this position the weeder rods 48 are disposed in such a manner that the inner ends of the weeder rod overlap to a slight extent. The rods are rotated through the means of the drive units 42 and drive boots 4 In this position, as the units move over a field that is being worked upon, the outrigger sections will tend to flex or move upwardly and downwardly to a slight extent. T o accommodate for this movement the brackets 52, or more particularly the rearwardly extending plates 56 of the brackets 52, can move upwardly and downwardly with respect to the support 54, this movement being accommodated by the slot 64 in the plate 55. It should also be noted at this point that the weeder rod 48 is slightly flexible and will permit a slight amount of bending throughout its length. To shift the tool carrier unit from its working position to its transport position, it is necessary to loosen the bolts '76, slide the weeder rod sections outwardly until their inner ends are disposed adjacent the innermost brackets 52 on the outrigger sections, tighten the bolts 76 with the rod sections in their new position, and then to retract the hydraulic cylinder 32 thereby causing the outrigger sections to be swung upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2.

While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should be recognized that other forms and variations may occur to those skilled in the art without their departing basically from the broad general principles disclosed herein. Therefore it should be understood that the present description and disclosure was given for the purposes of clearly and concisely illustrating the principles of the invention and there is no intention to limit or narrow the invention beyond the broad general scope as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A rod weeder carrying frame having pivoted outrigger sections and a central section to which the outrigger sections are pivotally secured, each of the outrigger sections having generally transversely extending frame means, a plurality of depending means carried by each of the sections, two weeder rods, one of said weeder rods being supported by the depending means on one of the outrigger sections and by selected depending means on the central section when the Outriggers are disposed in their working position, the other of said weeder rods being supported by the depending means on the other of said outrigger sections and by other selected depending means on the central section when the Outriggers are disposed in their working position, said weeder rods being generally parallel to said transversely extending frame means, and means carried by each of said outrigger sections and adapted to drive and weeder rods when they are in their working position, at least one of said plurality of depending means on each of said outrigger sections being vertically shiftable to accommodate vertical shifting of intermediate portions of each of said weeder rods when said outrigger sections pivot relative to the intermediate section.

2. In combination with a tool carrier having a central section and outrigger sections pivotally secured to said central section and movable between a generally horizontal working position and a generally vertically extending transport position, each of the outrigger sections having generally transversely extending frame means, a weeder rod means including two transversely shiftable rotary weeder rods, means mounted on said outrigger sec.- tions adapted to rotatably support said rotary weeder rods generally parallel to said transversely extending frame means, means mounted on said outrigger sections and adapted to rotatably drive said weeder rods, and means mounted on said central section adapted to rotatably support the inner ends of said weeder rods only when said outrigger sections are in their horizontal working position.

3. In combination with a tool carrier having main frame means and outrigger frame means pivoted to said main frame means for shiftable movement from a generally horizontal working position to a generally vertical transport position, a rod weeder comprising a plurality of depending means carried by said main frame means and said pivoted outrigger frame means, rotary weeder rod means supported on said depending means for lateral shifting between a first position of support in which said weeder rod means is supported by depending means on both of said frame means and a second position of support in which said weeder rod means is supported by depending means on only one of said frame means, and locking means on said depending means to hold said weeder rod means in either of said positions.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3 in which selected depending means have a vertically shiftable portion to which said weeder rod means is rotatably and shiftably secured, said selected depending means permitting vertical shifting of intermediate portions of said weeder rod means when said weeder rod means is in its first position of support.

5. In an apparatus of the class described having a main frame and a pair of outrigger frames pivoted to said main frame about fore-and-aft axes for independent shiftable movement from a generally horizontal working position to a generally vertical transport position, the combination therewith of a rod weeder comprising'a plurality of depending means carried by each of said main and outrigger frames, a pair of rotary weeder rods supported on said depending means for lateral shifting, each of said weeder rods being shiftable between a first position of support in which said weeder rod is supported by depending means on one of the outrigger frames and by adjacent depending means on the main frame and a second position of support in which said weeder rod is supported solely by the depending means on said one outrigger frame, and locking means on said depending means to hold the weeder rods in either of their positions.

6. The invention set forth in claim 5 in which those depending means on the outrigger frames that are adjacent the main frame have a vertically shiftable portion to which the associated weeder rod is rotatably and shiftably secured, said last-mentioned depending means permitting vertical shifting of intermediate portions of the weeder rods when said weeder rods are in their first position of support.

7. The invention set forth in claim 5 in which means are mounted on the outrigger frames to rotatably drive said weeder rods.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ceived in Patent Office Dec. 3, 1958 (pp. 25 and 36 relied on).

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A ROD WEEDER CARRYING FRAME HAVING PIVOTED OUTRIGGER SECTIONS AND A CENTRAL SECTION TO WHICH THE OUTRIGGER SECTIONS ARE PIVOTALLY SECURED, EACH OF THE OUTRIGGER SECTIONS HAVING GENERALLY TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING FRAME MEANS, A PLURALITY OF DEPENDING MEANS CARRIED BY EACH OF THE SECTIONS, TWO WEEDER RODS, ONE OF SAID WEEDER RODS BEING SUPPORTED BY THE DEPENDING MEANS ON ONE OF THE OUTRIGGER SECTIONS AND BY SELECTED DEPENDING MEANS ON THE CENTRAL SECTION WHEN THE OUTRIGGERS ARE DISPOSED IN THEIR WORKING POSITION, THE OTHER OF SAID WEEDER RODS BEING SUPPORTED BY THE DEPENDING MEANS ON THE OTHER OF SAID OUTRIGGER SECTIONS AND BY OTHER SELECTED DEPENDING MEANS ON THE CENTRAL SECTION WHEN THE OUTRIGGERS ARE DISPOSED IN THEIR WORKING POSITION, SAID WEEDER RODS BEING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING FRAME MEANS, AND MEANS CARRIED BY EACH OF SAID OUTRIGGER SECTIONS AND ADAPTED TO DRIVE AND WEEDER RODS EHEN THEY ARE IN THEIR WORKING POSITION, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID PLURALITY OF DEPENDING MEANS ON EACH OF SAID OUTRIGGER SECTIONS BEING VERTICALLY SHIFTABLE TO ACCOMMODATE VERTICAL SHIFTING OF INTERMEDIATE PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID WEEDER RODS WHEN SAID OUTRIGGER SECTIONS PIVOT RELATIVE TO THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION. 